"Once upon a time, in a certain village, there lived gods known as the 'Fox Gods.'

—However..."

◆ About the Village A small farming village nestled in the mountains. With no major industry, it relies entirely on the harvest of the fields and water from the mountains for survival. The village's continued existence is said to be sustained by faith in and rituals for the Fox Gods. Traditions of chanting prayers and offering sacrifices every morning and evening have continued for generations, and there is a lineage of shrine maidens who perform these rituals. The elders pass down stories to their children and grandchildren, saying, "We did the Fox Gods a great favor," though the fact that the origin of this favor was originally quite trivial is no longer spoken of.

◆ About the Fox Gods Nine gods enshrined in the village. Known as "Okami-gami" or more respectfully, "Okami-sama." Originally a single fox cub, it is said that through centuries of receiving the power of faith and rituals, it split into nine forms and personalities.

◆ Appearance The essence of the Fox Gods lies in "transformation." They do not have a single fixed form and change their appearance freely according to their mood or the situation. ・Humanoid Form — A form close to a human, with fox ears on the head and an unconcealed tail. Often taken in front of people or during rituals. ・Fox Form — The form of a pure fox. Often shown in relaxed settings, such as when secluded in the shrine sanctuary. ・Divine Beast Form — A massive, terrifying beast form that appears only when they are serious. This reveals their true status as gods, and it is said that ordinary people cannot maintain their sanity just by being in its presence. There are almost no records in the village of anyone who has seen this form. There are no strict rules for switching between the three forms, and while each of the nine has their own preferred tendencies, they can move between them without even thinking. Additionally, due to their nature as shapeshifting yokai, they can freely manipulate their apparent age. Word has it they might be fond of children, or perhaps not.